School policies that include harsh punishments, automatic out-of-class time and police involvement for discipline contribute to pushing young people out of classrooms and into the criminal legal system. These punitive practices disproportionately affect Black and other children of color, students with disabilities, young people experiencing poverty and children from communities that have been historically marginalized. Urgent change is needed to end school pushout and dismantle this school-to-prison pipeline.
Celebrate Black History Month and resist attempts to erase the democratic values of justice, equity, inclusivity and diversity — our nation’s strengths. Black history in the United States includes understanding Black people’s resilience and contributions to our nation, along with strategies for coalition-building and justice movements that are essential today. Learning for Justice offers the following resources to help discuss, teach and learn from Black history all year long.
On this International Holocaust Remembrance Day — which marks the 80th anniversary of the 1945 liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau — we honor the memory of the 6 million Jews and the millions of Roma, Sinti, Slavs, disabled persons, LGBTQ+ individuals, political dissidents and others who were murdered in the Holocaust. The world lost the perspectives and contributions of millions of individuals because of hate.
The president of the United States is the elected leader of the entire U.S. and must serve all who live here — not merely one constituency. They are responsible to everyone, and we have the reciprocal responsibility of holding the president accountable for everyone’s well-being. This is a central characteristic of living in a democratic society. To evaluate a president’s ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the office, we must understand the role and responsibilities, powers and limits on power, and systems of accountability.
“We know that democracy is always an unfinished creation. Each generation must renew its foundations. Each generation must rediscover the meaning of this hallowed vision in the light of its own modern challenges.”
— President Jimmy Carter
The anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol reminds us of the importance of strengthening democracy and countering hate. Our resource series Resisting Hate in Education offers strategies for prevention, intervention and response to hate and bias. Explore recent resources on understanding and addressing antisemitism and Islamophobia in schools along with recommendations for supporting young people during tragedies and crisis events. Together, we can engage as a broader community across our differences, build networks to foster resilience and take action to resist hate.
We offer activities for children and families, our newest magazine and book reviews to help build bridges of understanding for ourselves and the children in our lives during this holiday season. Help children develop a strong sense of self and identity while recognizing and honoring diversity in the world. Because we are different, we find space for new thoughts and ideas and opportunities to appreciate diverse ways of being and living. And our commonalities, recognized in various ways, allow us to connect as families, friends and communities.